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I think my period is initiating flair up's of my colitis.  I realized that about a couple days before my period my colitis gets really bad and then once me period is over my colitis starts to get better.  I have had this same pattern now for 5 months.  Anyone else experience this?  I am thinking about going on birth control pills in order to stabilize my hormones and maybe keep my colitis in check.

Christine

 Reply posted for aquari1979.

I too have expereinced this with my Crohn's. When I noticed the pattern and talked to my general practice doc about it she said I could take my birth control continously and only have a period every 3-4 months.  It does not harm your body to skip some periods. While I still have issues when I do get a planned period at least it is only every few months instead of every month. If you are on birth control it is something you can discuss with your doctor to see if it is right for you. 

 Reply posted for aquari1979.

yeah, i totally flair before my period, bathroom way more frequent, and lately PMS comes mostly with crippling arthritis all over my body, the day i get my period it finally calms down, so ahhhhh, and then i'm like dammit, how come i didn't realize this was related AGAIN? what's worse is my period is like clock work and i always get it a few days before my injections are due, so it's like the meds ware off and the pms starts at the same time! UGH!

 Reply posted for RDuval04.

Thanks!  Good suggestion - I will talk tto my doctor about the Nuva Ring.

 Reply posted for aquari1979.

I have had this problem since I was diagnosed about 10 years ago. recently my Dr. put me on nuva ring. I use one ring ever three weeks and I stay on it continuously for 6 months. So now I only get 2 periods a year! it has been great with helping keep me in remission and I don't have to deal with the doubled over pain every month anymore. I definetly recommend talking to you Dr. about it if you want to go that route, and it doesn't cause any harm to your body what so ever, but definely talk to your Dr. first.

 Reply posted for laraizant.

what a revelation!  i was diagnosed with crohn's two years ago and started experiencing horrible cramping during and after my cycle a little over a year ago.  nothing seems to help with the pain and it's definitely different and worse than usual period cramps. 

i have been on birth control for years, so i don't know if that's helping me or making it worse.  i saw somewhere on the forum that someone was taking the continuous birth control where you don'g get a period to avoid the hormonal changes that cause the pain / flares.  has anyone tried that?  any success?

 Reply posted for aquari1979.

Hi. I also had flair ups around the time I had my period. My gyno actually figured it out that my period and flair ups were connected. My Crohns is moderate to severe and I was told that my immune system couldn't handle my period and control the Crohns at the same time. I was older and had completed my family, so we opted for a prcoedure that stopped my periods. Once I had that procedure, my monthly flair ups ceased. Best surgery I ever had. Hope this helps.

 Reply posted for ksblue.

Dear ksblue,

I SO hear you! I ALWAYS had very bad cramping when that time of the month would come. The pain was even worse than  my normal crohn's pain. Basically I am in bed for 5 days I hurt so bad. But ever since I had my bowel resection surgery in June this year, suddenly those horrible cramps are gone! So I KNOW this was caused by the crohn's. So weird that it was all connected. I am just glad to be pain free once more!

sincerely, Kellie

 Reply posted for laraizant.

I have sort of a different issue that I'm hoping someone might have as well - or can shed light on. I never get my period anymore. I mean, maybe every 6 months or so. At first I thought is was because my DR kept switching my meds, but I've been on Lialda for three years now and my cycle keeps getting more sporadic. So my gyno put me on a low-dose pill, for the past 2 months to get me "back on track" and I swear it has destroyed my intestines. I feel awful for the past two months and the only thing different I'm doing is the Pill.

Anyone else have something like this??

 Reply posted for aquari1979.

Oh the joys of being a woman! I have been on birth control pills for a longer than I have been diagnosed with Crohn's and Colitis. It is normal for you to flare before and possibly during your period it will pass. Just go on the rice and starch diet for a week and a half. I asked my doctor about it he said that it was normal had to do with hormones...yeah for that. I am on Remicade, entocort, and lialda. But sometimes that time rolls around and I forget. You are not alone, my friend. Take care and best wishes... stock up in toilet paper and good smelling air freshener... LOL.

 Reply posted for aquari1979.

That's so funny that this post is on here because I haven't had  a  period for two months since being on steroids for partial blockages due to Crohn's....and when I started two days ago noticed that EVEN while on the steroids I was feeling like I was having inflammation issues.  I read/heard that the smallest thing can cause a setback--hormones, lack of sleep, etc.  Grrr yet another reason to dislike the monthly "fun"

 Reply posted for aquari1979.

I'm soooo glad that this is NOT just me! I've had Crohn's for 2 years now, and I while I don't get full out flare ups with  my menstrual cycle, I do get alot of abdominal cramping with my period. It usually starts a couple of days before my period actually starts, and it definitely outweighs the pain of any lower abdominal cramping that I have that would more commonly be associated with the average girl's period... but that doesn't stop people who don't have IBD from telling me that "you just have menstrual cramps. take some midol and be done with it!!" ARGH!! Sometimes if I just hug a heating pad its kind of soothing, but other times I think it makes it worse =/

 Reply posted for aquari1979.

I have this problem too! However, I have been on birth control since I was 15 and was diagnosed with Crohn's when I was 17. The flare's started about 4 month ago (I'm 22) to increase right before my cycle. I am on Humira and still taking my birth control pills but nothing seems to help. I guess it's just my body. But, I'm happy to know that other women have this problem too! If anyone has found anything else out that helps, let me know!

 Reply posted for aquari1979.

OMG! I have been experiencing the same thing for almost a year.  My Gyno gave me the 3 month birh control pill to begin this month..but my flare up was soo bad that I couldn't start it because I kept throwing up.  Now im on Steriods and Humira so I will c how this months cycle goes and if not so well then next month I will try the pills.

 Reply posted for laraizant.

I am so glad I read your posts!  I have Crohn's and noticed same that flare up is worse a few days before menstrual up to the end day of menstrual.  I also have heavy cycle and was considering getting back on birth control (been off for about 2 years).  I wasn't sure if it would actually help but docs said it should.. so good to see others in similar situation have had luck w/ it. 

 Reply posted for laraizant.

Thank you for responding. It is nice to validate what I am feeling. I just went on birth control with the hope that regulating my body's hormones will keep colitis attacks away. Has the birth control done that for you, or are your attacks just scaled down?

 Reply posted for aquari1979.

Yes, I noticed the same thing with me! I've been on birth control for years (I have endometriosis) and it does help regulate everything. It's nice to be so regular because then I know which days are going to be bad for my Crohn's & I can prepare for them & change my schedule if I can so I can take it easy.